Cycling and education are two of the things we are passionate about. We were therefore excited to partner with CycAlive, an initiative that brings together Grade 11 students from Torah Academy, Moletsane High School and Pace College in Soweto for a five-day cycling relay from Johannesburg to Durban.
CycAlive was started in 1998 as a bridgebuilding exercise to bring together students from various social, racial and religious backgrounds through cycling. The students eat, sleep and ride together during which time they get to know each other and learn about their shared commonalities and unique contributions to the South African society.
Since 2011 CycAlive has been an official event on the Nelson Mandela Day calendar, and on Sunday 28 July 2019, the cyclists gathered at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Houghton for the official send off. This year a former participant, Siphiwe Mngadi, addressed the crowd and spoke of the impact CycAlive had on his life. He credited the week-long journey as a turning point in his life and something which has given him the ability to succeed.
In addition to the bonds formed along the way, the cyclists stop at hospitals and rural schools along the route to provide much needed stationery and care packages to children in need. One of the annual highlights is a stop at the Ethembeni School for Children with Disabilities in Hilcrest where the students join in song and dance lifting their spirits.
The ride concludes at the Durban Promenade with the cyclists being welcomed by civic dignitaries, and community leaders.
The focus of CycAlive is to build bridges and form bonds between young South Africans while inspiring ubuntu, optimism and the building of a positive future in South Africa.